Browse Data and Analysis

Chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, are a legume full of protein, fiber, complex carbohydrates, and are relatively low in calories. Chickpeas are used in many Indian and Mediterranean dishes. Australia, India, and Canada are the top three chickpea exporters accounting for more than 40 percent of the world’s exports in 2022. Pakistan is the largest importer, followed by the European Union, Bangladesh, and Turkey.

Peas, beans, and lentils are staple protein sources in the Pakistani diet. Eaten with either flat bread (daal-roti) or rice (daal-chaawal), the demand for these pulses is growing as inflation leads consumers to search for alternatives to animal protein.

Based on the export pace through the first 10 months of the year, the 2022/23 rice export estimate is reduced from 3.7 to 3.4 million tons.

The 2023/24 harvested area estimate is increased slightly based on information collected during recent field travel.

Based on the Government of Pakistan’s (GOP) first official assessment, the 2023/24 wheat production forecast is increased to a record 28.0 million tons.

Sugar production in 2023/24 is forecast at 7.05 million tons, three percent above the 2022/23 estimate. The marginal increase is due to expectations for a recovery in cane area harvested compared to the flood-damaged 2022/23 crop.

As of March 2023, Pakistani authorities still ban genetically engineered (GE) oilseed imports. While they have made some progress in developing a system to allow for GE oilseed imports, uncertainty regarding when that system will be operative clouds the outlook for oilseed imports.

Despite a slight reduction in planted area, 2023/2024 wheat production is forecast to reach 27.0 million tons, two percent higher than last year. With consumption growth expected to outstrip the increase in production, 2023/24 wheat imports are forecast to reach 2.6 million tons.

Cotton production is forecast to rebound 36 percent to 5.3 million bales in 2023/24. After the flood damaged 2022/23 crop, yields should return to trend, while better returns from competing crops will limit area expansion.

Due to the recent ban on genetically engineered (GE) commodity imports, the 2022/23 soybean import forecast is reduced from 2.5 to 1.2 million tons. With the lower expected soybean imports, 2022/23 crush and soybean meal output is reduced accordingly.

The 2022/23 cotton import forecast is reduced from 5 to 4.5 million bales due to the problems importers are facing in financing imports. Since December 2022, Pakistan’s shortage of dollars has hindered cotton importers’ ability to fulfill payment...

Pakistan is the 25th largest export market for U.S. food and agricultural-related products, with U.S. exports surpassing $1.3 billion in 2021. The top U.S. exports to Pakistan were cotton, soybeans, pulses, tree nuts, dairy products, planting seeds, dairy cattle, and forestry products.